John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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Yep. And how could anything compete with something this cool looking. (Did I mention that we get 72 MPG  )
Click here to see the twins. Click here to see our smart twins.
Come visit us at our website and share in our great fulltime RV Adventure.
2003 Fleetwood Revolution 40C
Retired Canadian Air Force Technicians
Vernon,B.C,Canada.
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david_42
Oregon
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Joined: 04/08/2005
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Why two convertibles?
I know one couple in Portland that own two hardtops. They can park both of them in their one-car garage. They had one re-keyed, so it doesn't matter who takes which one.
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John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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Why two convertibles. We only live in warm climayes now so it made sense for us. Neat idea with the key thing....hmmmm.
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IggyQuartet
Adirondack Mountains
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Joined: 10/26/2009
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We have two Smarts also... one convertible for me and DH drives the Passion which has a glass roof. Ours are the US version, 451's unlike yours which are the cuter and much more fuel efficient 450's.
I am surprised that you can't drive the Canadian diesel Smarts into the US even just on a day trip... but it explains why I never see any up here even though we are only an hour from the border.
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John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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IggyQuartet wrote:We have two Smarts also... one convertible for me and DH drives the Passion which has a glass roof. Ours are the US version, 451's unlike yours which are the cuter and much more fuel efficient 450's.
I am surprised that you can't drive the Canadian diesel Smarts into the US even just on a day trip... but it explains why I never see any up here even though we are only an hour from the border.
The thing is, you can. These two are proof. We will be trailering ours but I am not anticipating a problem. Had a chance to talk to one fellow today and he said they never batted an eye.
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WilleyB
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Joined: 12/02/2005
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How about this rig. Woke up at the Ste Hyacinthe Wally and there it was. In neat lettering on the tractor was " Private RV, Not for rental"
Was raining too hard to get good photos
Cheers
Willey
Vanguard VXL2000
2000 Ford V10 Triton, E350 Super Duty
Just for me,the Mrs and the mutt
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mavapa
Rome, Ga, USA
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Joined: 11/08/2002
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The decision not to import the diesel Smart into the US is entirely Mercedes' responsibility. MB imports other diesels, and other manufacturers import diesels as well.
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kottfam6wi
South Central Wisconsin
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Joined: 03/16/2005
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mavapa wrote:The decision not to import the diesel Smart into the US is entirely Mercedes' responsibility. MB imports other diesels, and other manufacturers import diesels as well.
You are partially correct. MB is unwilling to change their design to meet US EPA approvals. So, as is, US will not allow MB to import.
Joe
Our Family Pictures
Joe
Chris-9, Emily-5, Jessica-3, Jason-2
"Rallies Attended 9 1/2" (Wahoo!! we're catching up!)
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab 5.9L CTD
2005 K-Z Durango 315BH 5th Wheel (2nd Camper)
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mavapa
Rome, Ga, USA
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Joined: 11/08/2002
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kottfam6wi, that's right in that MB has decided not to modify their diesel Smart car to meet US regulations, and, of course, they can therefore not import it. But it is entirely their choice, the same kind of choice they made when they decided to import their other diesel models, including the Sprinter. Many other auto manufacturers make the same sorts of decisions all the time, which accounts for the very large number of autos available in Europe but not in the US. VW sold diesel Golfs and Jettas for several years that got 50+ mpg. Their current US offerings do not reach that level of fuel economy. VW continues to sell very fuel efficient diesels in Europe but they don't offer them in the US. There are lots of reasons for these decisions, but I think it's not fair to blame US air quality and crash-worthiness standards for the automakers decisions. I think their decisions are entirely based on their reading of the US market. I don't necessarily agree that they are right, but the automakers are the ones who decide.
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kottfam6wi
South Central Wisconsin
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mavapa wrote:kottfam6wi, that's right in that MB has decided not to modify their diesel Smart car to meet US regulations, and, of course, they can therefore not import it. But it is entirely their choice, the same kind of choice they made when they decided to import their other diesel models, including the Sprinter. Many other auto manufacturers make the same sorts of decisions all the time, which accounts for the very large number of autos available in Europe but not in the US. VW sold diesel Golfs and Jettas for several years that got 50+ mpg. Their current US offerings do not reach that level of fuel economy. VW continues to sell very fuel efficient diesels in Europe but they don't offer them in the US. There are lots of reasons for these decisions, but I think it's not fair to blame US air quality and crash-worthiness standards for the automakers decisions. I think their decisions are entirely based on their reading of the US market. I don't necessarily agree that they are right, but the automakers are the ones who decide.
MB choose not to modify the diesel smart car to meet US EPA regulations because the fuel economy would be reduced by twenty percent. That's right TWENTY percent. I support them standing their ground on this, it's the US that needs to learn to adjust our nonsense regulations that cause lower fuel economy. Ulterior motive by our politicians maybe?
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